The Denver Nuggets have assigned guard Julius Hodge to the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League (D-League), General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe announced today. Austin has been assigned the Nuggets’ D-League affiliate for the 2005-06 season.

Hodge, 6-7, 210, was drafted by the Nuggets in the first round (20th overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft. He has appeared in 11 games for the Nuggets this season, averaging 1.0 ppg and 0.6 rpg in 2.7 minutes. Hodge becomes the first Nugget assigned to the D-League since the affiliate system was put into place this past summer.

Ten of the 21 NBA-assigned players are now currently active in the D-League. Hodge is the first player to be designated to the Toros. He will join the Austin team on their current road trip and play for the first time with coach Dennis Johnson’s squad on Friday at Tulsa.

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